Va. gives millions to localities to cut stormwater pollution

Va. gives millions to localities to cut stormwater pollution

The following comes from a news release Friday from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality:

Virginia has awarded the first round of grants under the new Stormwater Local Assistance Fund, Governor Bob McDonnell announced today. The grants total $22.9 million and cover 71 projects in 31 localities.

McDonnell said that by targeting the needs of local governments, the state is helping to reduce pollution in our waterways, and cleaning up our environment.

The fund, administered by the Department of Environmental Quality, was included in the Governor’s budget and established by the 2013 General Assembly. It makes $35 million available to local governments as matching grants for best management practices that reduce pollution from stormwater runoff.

DEQ will award the remaining $12.1 million in the fund through another grant round in 2014. This will enable applicants not selected this year to identify other options for improving water quality, focusing on cost-effectiveness and enhanced stormwater management plans that address required water quality improvements. Governor McDonnell included another $20 million in the second year of his proposed budget for additional projects.

The approved projects are designed to reduce levels of phosphorus, a key pollutant in stormwater. They have relatively high environmental benefits in terms of pounds of phosphorus removed per year, and they are the most cost-effective of the proposals that DEQ considered.

In the last four years Virginia has reduced nitrogen pollution by 11.1%, phosphorus pollution by 7.7%, and sediment pollution by 6.9% in state waters. The U.S. EPA awarded Virginia with their “Biggest Loser Award” in recognition of these efforts.